SALEM Council agrees to delay bidding on street project

Council is delaying action so it can examine an impact study.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- City council narrowly agreed to postpone bidding for a street project opposed by some residents, but eventually it is likely to be approved, a city councilwoman said.
After hearing from east-side residents opposed to a plan to widen and extend a portion of East Third Street to Roosevelt Avenue, council voted 4-3 to delay voting on a measure to authorize bidding.
The entire council, meeting Wednesday as a "committee-of-the-whole," agreed to move ahead with a companion ordinance to undertake engineering for a nearly $1.7 million project.
Besides extending Third Street, the project also includes improvements to Bentley Drive and Roosevelt Avenue.
Traffic congestion
The entire project is aimed at easing traffic congestion on nearby East State Street, home of the city's commercial district.
Traffic in the corridor is expected to heighten in coming months when a Wal-Mart opens near the intersection of East State and Cunningham Road.
Residents living along Third and nearby streets oppose extending Third because they fear it will draw more traffic to their quiet street, depress property values and endanger neighborhood children.
City officials have disagreed, but in response to residents' complaints, previously ordered an impact study conducted by a local engineering firm.
Council first saw the study Wednesday and has not had time to examine it, Councilwoman Mary Lou Popa, D-1st, said today.
Councilwoman Nancy Cope, R-at-large, said today that the decision to move ahead with engineering most likely means that the entire project will eventually be approved by council.
Cope, committee-of-the-whole chairwoman, said she anticipates that the bidding ordinance for the project will be adopted by council sometime in December.
Vote breakdown
Cope was among the council members who voted against postponing the project bidding. Also objecting were councilmen Steve Andres, D-2nd; and Walt Bezeredi, D-4th.
Voting to postpone the bidding were Popa and council members Greg Oesch, R-3rd; Alma Apicella, R-at-large; and Fred Vogel, R-at-large.
Council intends to borrow money to pay for the project.
Work could start as early as this spring and would take about eight months to finish.